Dundee school looks at $20M capital project

DUNDEE--The Dundee school board reviewed a proposal for a new $20 million capital project during their school board meeting Thursday, Nov. 12. Craig Daily of King and King Architects gave the board details on different areas of the school that were in need of improvement or repair. These areas focused mainly on the school's bus garage, part of the roof, security improvements and a redesign of the educational spaces.
The cost breakdown for the project is as follows:
• $12.25 million for educational spaces.
• $7.5 million for the bus garage.
• $1.75 million for the roof replacement.
• $1.6 million for the administrative office work.
• $650,000 for security upgrades.
• $250,000 for site upgrades.
Daily said much of the district's main facility work will revolve around making alterations to the school's 1938 classroom design. He said this would include alterations to some of the elementary rooms as well as at the junior/senior high school. Daily added this can help make classrooms more conducive to learning according to modern standards, adding there is also a proposed STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) room.
The school's bus garage is also a main focus of the project, with Daily stating it is "in need of serious attention." He noted the lifts are aging and need to be replaced, and that the facility is not conducive to maintaining the district's bus fleet. Some of the proposals Daily mentioned included possibly constructing a new facility either on or off campus, adding they are looking at a total building envelope reconstruction. He also said there is a proposed two bay addition with support storage and office space.
The plan will also address the oldest remaining roof portion of the building, with Daily noting that part of it does not even have any insulation. He said this segment of the project can cost around $1.75 million in order to do the proper repairs and replacements, which will include insulating that area as well.
The school board took no action on this plan during the meeting, as Daily said this capital project is only a proposal at this time, and that they still need to work toward a board resolution. He noted they still need to work on the size and scope of the project, expecting it to go to referendum in the fall of 2016. Daily said construction could then be completed by 2018 or 2019.